Meet our Contracts Manager – Mark Chandler
Name and position
Mark Chandler, Contracts Manager.
How did you get into this job?
I joined BSW as a tradesman in 1999, initially working for the Contract Heating Installation Team and continued in this role for four years. Previously, I had worked at Natwest for thirteen years starting as an office junior and working my way to Assistant Manager. I left and retrained as a carpenter and worked for a local builder to learn all aspects of the trade. I was then asked to help run a kitchen and refurbishment program looking after 160 installations in Hastings for 1066 Housing Association. After this I moved onto Supervision full time and looked after various installation contracts on the Building Services side. Finally, I was promoted to Contracts Manager three years ago and continue in this role today.
What does your day to day role entail?
I normally get to the office before 8am and generally leave about 6pm although it is common to take calls before and after these times! My department currently starts an average of thirty installation per week and with a combined work force of over sixty people (office staff, Surveyors, site managers, drivers and operatives), most days have their ‘busy’ times. Whilst certain days have structure, i.e signing wages, surveying days, site visits, most days involve planning and programming of future works.
I rely on my Site Managers to run the sites efficiently and effectively and am on hand to ask any questions they may have. We cover Kent, East and West Sussex, Surrey, South London and parts of Hampshire and Wiltshire and therefore logistics plays a significant part in ensuring our impact on the environment is as minimal as possible. Client liaison is essential and I prepare monthly reports for our clients and these are relayed during our monthly meetings to keep them fully aware of progress. Elements such as current progress, Site Waste Management, Health and Safety and Cash Flow Forecasts are just some of the items discussed. I am also responsible for the Company’s Site Waste Management Plan, ensuring that our recycling figures are monitored to ensure maximum recovery is achieved and relayed to our clients when necessary!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The unpredictability ensures that no two days are the same. The department has grown considerably in the last year or so due to the acquisition of a major contract and I take a great deal of satisfaction from the excellent team we now have in place. We are constantly monitored by our clients by way of ‘Key Performance Indicators’ and when we time on time exceed these targets it is very pleasing and a credit to the team.
What are some of the challenges you face in your role?
Managing a heavy workload is challenging and constantly having to prioritise issues and problems requires attention at all times. Managing a workforce and ensuring works are distributed in an even fashion involves careful management. Keeping an eye on budgets and cash flow is particularly important and ensuring that our client’s budgets are fully utilised.
What is your vision for the future of BSW?
Having been part of the BSW team for thirteen years now, I have seen the Company go from strength to strength in terms of growth, office facilities and staffing. The period of growth currently being seen bodes well for the future and am delighted to be a part of that. I always feel a huge responsibility to ensure that the department continues to grow as we have an excellent team and foundation in place. It goes without saying that continued growth is essential and due to our positive actions in the last year, this shows that we are capable of so much more and I am very keen to play an integral role in the future development of BSW.
